Dynamic tactile interface

ABSTRACT

One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region; a substrate coupled to the peripheral region, a fluid conduit adjacent the deformable region, a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, and a via fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and passing through the back surface; a bladder fluidly coupled to the via and the substrate; a structure adjacent a first side of the bladder; and a platen adjacent a second side of the bladder opposite the first side and compressing the bladder against the structure substantially perpendicular the longitudinal axis of the bladder and substantially parallel the substrate to displace fluid from the bladder and into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/552,312, filed 24 Nov. 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/907,534, filed 22 Nov. 2013, both ofwhich are incorporated in their entirety by this reference.

These applications are related to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/045,124, filed 3 Sep. 2014; U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/969,848, filed on 4 Jan. 2008; U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/414,589 filed 7 Mar. 2012; U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/456,010, filed 25 Apr. 2012; U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/456,031,filed 25 Apr. 2012; U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/465,737, filed 7 May 2012; and U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/465,772, filed 7 May 2012, all of which are incorporated in theirentireties by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to touch-sensitive displays, and morespecifically to a new and useful dynamic tactile interface in the fieldof touch-sensitive displays.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic representations of a dynamic tactileinterface;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic representations of variations of thedynamic tactile interface;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a dynamic tactile interface;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic representations of one variation of thedynamic tactile interface;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are schematic representations of one variation ofthe dynamic tactile interface;

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are schematic representations of one variation ofthe dynamic tactile interface;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart representation of one variation of the dynamictactile interface;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of one variation of the dynamictactile interface;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart representation of one variation of the dynamictactile interface;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic representations of one variation of thedynamic tactile interface;

FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are schematic representations of one variationof the dynamic tactile interface;

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of one variation of the dynamictactile interface;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic representations of one variation of thedynamic tactile interface;

FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of one variation of the dynamictactile interface;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart representation of one variation of the dynamictactile interface;

FIGS. 16A, 16B, 16C are schematic representations of one variation ofthe dynamic tactile interface;

FIG. 17 is a schematic representation of one variation of the dynamictactile interface;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart representation of one variation of the dynamictactile interface; and

FIG. 19 is a flowchart representation of one variation of the dynamictactile interface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the embodiments of the invention is notintended to limit the invention to these embodiments, but rather toenable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention.

1. Dynamic Tactile Interface

As shown in FIG. 7, the dynamic tactile interface 100 includes a tactilelayer 120 defining a peripheral region 121 and a deformable region 122adjacent the peripheral region 121; a substrate 110 coupled to theperipheral region 121 across an attachment surface of the substrate 110,the substrate 110 defining a back surface opposite the attachmentsurface, a fluid conduit 114 adjacent the deformable region 122, a fluidchannel 116 fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit 114, and a via 118fluidly coupled to the fluid channel 116 and passing through the backsurface; a bladder 130 fluidly coupled to the via 118 and coupled to theback surface of the substrate 110, the bladder 130 defining alongitudinal axis; a volume of fluid arranged within the bladder 130; astructure 143 adjacent a first side of the bladder 130; and a platen 149adjacent a second side of the bladder 130 opposite the first side andcompressing the bladder 130 against the structure 143 in a directionsubstantially perpendicular the longitudinal axis of the bladder 130 andsubstantially parallel the back surface of the substrate 110 to displacefluid from the bladder 130, through the via 118, and into the fluidchannel 116 to transition the deformable region 122 from a retractedsetting into an expanded setting, the deformable region 122 tactilelydistinguishable from the peripheral region 121 in the expanded setting.

A variation of the dynamic tactile interface 100, shown in FIGS. 11A,11B, and 11C, includes: a tactile layer 120 defining a peripheral region121 and a deformable region 122 adjacent the peripheral region 121, thedeformable region 122 operable between a retracted setting and anexpanded setting, the deformable region 122 defining a formationtactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region 121 in the expandedsetting; a substrate 110 coupled to the peripheral region 121 at anattachment surface of the substrate 110, the substrate 110 defining aback surface opposite the attachment surface, a fluid conduit 114adjacent the deformable region 122, a fluid channel 116 fluidly coupledto the fluid conduit 114, and a via 118 fluidly coupled to the fluidchannel 116 and passing through the back surface; a sleeve 147 defininga valley 146 of a first cross-section proximal a first end of the sleeve147 and of a second cross-section proximal a second end of the sleeve147, the first cross-section of an area less than an area of the secondcross-section, the sleeve 147 operable between a first position and asecond position; a bladder 130 fluidly coupled to the via 118, adjacentthe back surface of the substrate 110, defining a longitudinal axis, andarranged within the valley 146; a volume of fluid arranged within thebladder 130; and an actuator 160 coupled to the sleeve 147 andtranslating the sleeve 147 in a direction substantially parallel thelongitudinal axis from the first position to the second position todisplace fluid from the bladder 130, through the via 118, and into thefluid channel 116 to transition the deformable region 122 from theretracted setting to the expanded setting, the sleeve 147 proximal afirst end of the bladder 130 releasing a portion of the bladder 130 inthe first position and proximal a second end of the bladder 130 andconstricting the portion of the bladder 130 in the second position.

Generally, the dynamic tactile interface 100 includes a substrate 110, atactile layer 120, a bladder 130, and a displacement device 140configured to displace fluid from the bladder 130. One variation of thedisplacement device 140 includes the structure 143 and the platen 149,the platen 149 cooperating with the structure 143 to compress thebladder 130 and displace fluid from the bladder 130 into the fluidchannel 116. Another variation of the displacement device 140 includes asleeve 147 defining a valley 146 of varying cross-section translatinglinearly along the longitudinal axis of the bladder 130, the bladder 130arranged in the valley 146 of the sleeve 147 and compressed betweensurfaces of the valley 146 to displace fluid from the bladder 130 intothe fluid channel 116. A variation of the dynamic tactile interface 100further includes a cavity 144 configured to receive an instrument 141,the bladder 130 coupled to the cavity 144. In this variation, thedisplacement device 140 is defined by the instrument 141 and the cavity144, the instrument 141 compressing the bladder 130 to displace fluidfrom the bladder 130 to the fluid channel 116.

2. Applications

The dynamic tactile interface 100 can define a deformable region 122,which can selectively expand and retract to provide intermittent tactileguidance at the tactile layer 120, such as for a user interacting with acomputing device incorporating the dynamic tactile interface 100. Thedynamic tactile interface 100 can be applied as dynamic surface for anelectronic device receiving tactile inputs. In particular, the dynamictactile interface 100 can be applied to (e.g., applied over orintegrated in) an electronic device incorporating a touchscreen, such asa tablet, smartphone, laptop computer, desktop computer, personal dataassistant (PDA), personal music player (e.g., MP3 player), an automotivedashboard display or console, stereo interface, a television, or apersonal navigation device. The dynamic tactile interface 100 can alsobe applied to a watch, a home stereo system interface, a lighting orthermostat control system, a machine tool controller, a computer mouse,a computer touchpad, a keyboard or keypad, a gaming controller orconsole, cooking equipment, or any other suitable electronic and/ordigital computing device. The dynamic tactile interface 100 can bearranged (e.g., transiently installed) over a touchscreen to enabletactile guidance for a user interacting with the touchscreen. Forexample, the dynamic tactile interface 100 can be integrated into orapplied over a touchscreen of a computing device to selectively andintermittently represent physical hard keys (e.g., round or rectangularbuttons) substantially aligned with input keys rendered on an adjacent(digital) display 180. In one implementation, the deformable region 122can be planar or flush with the peripheral region 121 in the retractedsetting and the deformable region 122 can be raised above the peripheralregion 121 in the expanded setting to define a tactilely distinguishablefeature on the tactile surface. For example, a user can manually actuatethe displacement device 140 to transition the deformable region 122 tothe expanded setting in order to guide the user to apply an input, suchas with a finger or stylus 141, to a particular region of the tactilelayer 120 corresponding to (i.e., arranged over) a key of a virtualkeyboard rendered by the display 180. In this example, the displacementdevice 140 can transition the deformable region 122 to the retractedsetting when the user actuates the displacement device 140, deformingthe tactile layer 120 to a substantially planar or flush configuration.In particular, the displacement device 140 (i.e., the platen 149 or thesleeve 147), which can be manually or electromechanically actuated, cancompress the bladder 130 to displace fluid out of the bladder 130,thereby transitioning the deformable region 122 into the expandedsetting. For example, the displacement device 140 can include the platen149 arranged adjacent a first side of the bladder 130 and a structure143 arranged adjacent a second side of the bladder 130 opposite thefirst side, the displacement device 140 translating the platen 149toward the structure 143 to compress the bladder 130 and displace fluidfrom the bladder 130. The displacement device 140 can also activelymanipulate or passively release the bladder 130 to displace fluid orrelease fluid back into the bladder 130 to transition the deformableregion 122 back into the retracted setting.

Generally, the displacement device 140 of the dynamic tactile interface100 can displace fluid into and out of the fluid channel 116 totransition the deformable region 122 of the dynamic tactile interface100 between retracted and expanded settings. In one implementation, thedeformable region 122 can be substantially flush with the adjacentperipheral region 121 in the retracted setting, such that the surf acegeometry is substantially continuous (e.g., flat, planar, smooth) acrossthe deformable region 122 and the peripheral region 121 in the retractedsetting. In this implementation, fluid displaced into the fluid channel116 can expand the deformable region 122, thereby elevating thedeformable region 122 above the peripheral region 121 in the expandedsetting. In another implementation, the deformable region 122 can besubstantially flush with the adjacent peripheral region 121 in theexpanded setting and offset below the peripheral region 121 in theretracted setting. The dynamic tactile interface 100 can set verticalpositions (e.g., heights above the peripheral region 121) of one or moredeformable regions 122 of the tactile layer 120 to provide distincttactilely distinguishable features (i.e., buttons) of various heightsacross the tactile surface.

In one example application, the bladder 130 can be arranged within thevalley 146 of the sleeve 147 such that when the sleeve 147 translatesalong the longitudinal axis of the bladder 130, the walls of the bladder130 conform to varying cross-section of valley 146 and the valley 146constricts the bladder 130 to displace fluid from the bladder 130 intothe fluid channel 116. In this example application, the sleeve 147 canbe manually actuated by the user, such as through an actuator 160 (e.g.,a lever) coupled to the sleeve 147, the actuator 160 translating thesleeve 147 along the longitudinal axis of the bladder 130. In thisexample application, the actuator 160 can be translationally coupled toa housing 150 surrounding a computing device with an integrated display180 and arranging the substrate 110 and tactile layer 120 over theintegrated display 180. In a similar example application, thedisplacement device 140 (e.g., the platen 149) can communicate a forceor torque applied by a user to the actuator 160 (e.g., a button, alever, a switch) to translate the platen 149 toward the structure 143and compress the bladder 130 between the platen 149 and the structure143. Additionally, the displacement device 140 can, therefore,selectively and intermittently compress one or more bladders 130 toselectively and intermittently deform of one or more deformable regions122 between the retracted setting and the expanded setting to providetactile (e.g., haptic) guidance to a user interacting with a connectedcomputing device, such as a smartphone or tablet. The displacementdevice 140 can translate, rotate, or otherwise move parallel the backsurface and, thus, compress the bladder 130 in a direction parallel theback surface, thereby limiting force applied perpendicular to the backsurface of the substrate 110, which can cause the substrate 110 to liftaway from a computing device over which the dynamic tactile layer 120can be arranged.

3. Tactile Layer

The dynamic tactile interface 100 includes a tactile layer 120 defininga peripheral region 121 and a deformable region 122 adjacent theperipheral region 121. Generally, the tactile layer 120 functions todefine the tactile surface, the deformable region 122 and the peripheralregion 121. The tactile surface defines an interaction surface throughwhich a user can provide an input to an electronic device thatincorporates (e.g., integrates) the dynamic tactile interface 100. Thedeformable region 122 defines a dynamic region of the tactile layer 120,which can expand to define a tactilely distinguishable formation on thetactile surface in order to, for example, guide a user input to an inputregion of the electronic device. The peripheral region 121 attaches tothe substrate 110 and defines a perimeter of the deformable region 122.Thus, the peripheral region 121 cooperates with the deformable region122 to define a configuration of the tactile layer 120 and, inparticular, a shape of the tactile layer 120 when the deformable region122 is in the expanded setting. Alternatively, the deformable region cantransition from offset below and tactilely distinguishable from theperipheral region in the retracted setting to substantially flush withthe peripheral region in the expanded setting, as shown in FIG. 14.

The tactile layer 120 can be transparent, translucent, or of any otheroptical clarity suitable for transmitting light emitted by a display 180across the tactile layer 120. Thus, the tactile layer 120 can functionas a dynamic tactile interface 100 for the purpose of guiding, with thedeformable region 122, an input to a region of the display 180corresponding to a rendered image. For example, the deformable regions122 can function as a transient physical keys corresponding to discretevirtual keys of a virtual keyboard rendered on a display 180 coupled tothe dynamic tactile interface 100. Alternatively, the tactile layer 120can be substantially opaque or semi-opaque, such as in an implementationin which the tactile layer 120 is applied over a computing devicewithout a display 180. In this implementation, an opaque tactile layer120 can yield a dynamic tactile interface 100 for receiving inputs on,for example, a touch sensitive surface of a computing device. Thetactile layer 120 can also exhibit anti-reflective properties. Forexample, the tactile layer 120 can include multiple interference layersstacked in such a way to induce a gradual refractive index gradientacross the tactile layer 120. The multiple interference layers can bebonded or otherwise adhered, such that the layers can deform (andstretch) at the deformable region 122.

The tactile layer 120 can be elastic (or flexible, malleable, and/orextensible) such that the tactile layer 120 can transition between theexpanded setting and the retracted setting at the deformable region 122.As the peripheral region 121 can be attached to the substrate 110, theperipheral region 121 can substantially maintain a configuration (e.g.,a planar configuration) as the deformable region 122 transitions betweenthe expanded and retracted settings. Alternatively, the tactile layer120 can include both an elastic portion and a substantially inelastic(e.g., rigid) portion. The elastic portion can define the deformableregion 122; the inelastic portion can define the peripheral region 121.Thus, the elastic portion can transition between the expanded andretracted setting and the inelastic portion can maintain a configurationas the deformable region 122 transitions between the expanded andretracted settings. The tactile layer 120 can be of one or more layersof PMMA (e.g., acrylic), silicone, polyurethane elastomer, urethane,PETG, polycarbonate, or PVC. Alternatively, the tactile layer 120 can beof one or more layers of any other material suitable to transitionbetween the expanded and retracted settings at the deformable region122.

Alternatively the tactile layer 120 can include one or more sublayers ofsimilar or dissimilar materials. For example, the tactile layer 120 caninclude a silicone elastomer sublayer adjacent the substrate 110 and apolycarbonate sublayer joined to the silicone elastomer sublayer anddefining the tactile surface. Optical properties of the tactile layer120 can be modified by impregnating, extruding, molding, or otherwiseincorporating particulate (e.g., metal oxide nanoparticles) into thelayer and/or one or more sublayers of the tactile layer 120.

As described in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/035,851, which is hereinincorporated in its entirety by this reference, the tactile layer 120 iscoupled (e.g. attached or adhered) to the substrate 110 at theperipheral region 121 and cooperates with the substrate 110 to definethe fluid conduit 114 adjacent the deformable region 122. Thus, fluiddisplaced through the fluid channel 116 into the fluid conduit 114 candeform the deformable region 122 of the tactile layer 120 outwardly,thereby transitioning the deformable region 122 from the retractedsetting into the expanded setting. The deformable region 122 can besubstantially flush with the peripheral region 121 in the retractedsetting and can be offset above and tactilely distinguishable from theperipheral region 121 in the expanded setting. In the expanded setting,the deformable region 122 defines a tactilely distinguishable formationdefined by the deformable region 122 in the expanded setting can bedome-shaped, ridge-shaped, ring-shaped, crescent-shaped, or of any othersuitable form or geometry. When fluid is (actively or passively)released from behind the deformable region 122 of the tactile layer 120,the deformable region 122 can transition back into the retracted setting(shown in FIG. 1A). Alternatively, the deformable region 122 cantransition between a depressed setting and a flush setting, thedeformable region 122 in the depressed setting offset below flush withthe peripheral region 121 and deformed within the fluid conduit 114, thedeformable region 122 in the flush setting substantially flush with thedeformable region 122. Additionally, the deformable regions 122 cantransition between elevated positions of various heights relative to theperipheral region 121 to selectively and intermittently provide tactileguidance at the tactile surface over a touchscreen (or over any othersurface), such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/969,848, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/414,589, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/456,010, U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/456,031, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/465,737, and/or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/465,772. The deformable region 122 canalso define any other vertical position relative to the peripheralregion 121 in the expanded and retracted settings.

However, the tactile layer 120 can be of any other suitable material andcan function in any other way to yield a tactilely distinguishableformation at the tactile surface.

4. Substrate

The dynamic tactile interface 100 includes a substrate 110 coupled tothe peripheral region 121 across an attachment surface of the substrate110, the substrate 110 defining a back surface opposite the attachmentsurface, a fluid conduit 114 adjacent the deformable region 122, a fluidchannel 116 fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit 114, and a via 118fluidly coupled to the fluid channel 116 and passing through the backsurface. Generally, the substrate 110 functions to support the tactilelayer 120, retain the peripheral region 121, cooperate with thedeformable region 122 to define a fluid conduit 114, and define a fluidchannel 116 through which fluid travels toward and away from thedeformable region 122 of the tactile layer 120 to expand and retract thedeformable region 122. Alternatively, the substrate 110 and the tactilelayer 120 can be supported by a touchscreen once installed on acomputing device. For example the substrate 110 can be of a similarmaterial as and/or similarly or relatively less rigid than the tactilelayer 120, and the substrate 110 and the tactile layer 120 can derivesupport from an adjacent touchscreen of a computing device.

The substrate 110 can be substantially transparent or translucent. Forexample, in one implementation, wherein the dynamic tactile interface100 includes or is coupled to a display 180, the substrate no can besubstantially transparent and transmit light output from an adjacentdisplay 180. The substrate no can be PMMA, acrylic, and/or of any othersuitable transparent or translucent material. The substrate no canalternatively be surface-treated or chemically-altered PMMA, glass,chemically-strengthened alkali-aluminosilicate glass, polycarbonate,acrylic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), glycol-modified polyethyleneterephthalate (PETG), polyurethane, a silicone-based elastomer, or anyother suitable translucent or transparent material or combinationthereof. Alternatively, the substrate no can be substantially opaque orotherwise substantially non-transparent or translucent. For example, thesubstrate no can be opaque and arranged over an off-screen region of amobile computing device. Additionally, the substrate no can include oneor more transparent or translucent materials. For example, the substrateno can include a glass base sublayer bonded to walls or boundaries ofthe fluid channel 116 and the fluid conduit 114. The substrate no canalso include a deposited layer of material exhibiting adhesionproperties (e.g., an adhesive tie layer or film of silicon oxide film).The deposited layer can be distributed across an attachment surface ofthe substrate 110 to which the tactile adheres and function to retaincontact between the peripheral region 121 of the tactile layer 120 andthe attachment surface of the substrate 110 despite fluid pressureraising above the peripheral region 121 the deformable region 122 and,thus, attempting to pull the tactile layer 120 away from the substrate110. Additionally, the substrate 110 can be substantially relativelyrigid, relatively elastic, or exhibit any other material rigidityproperty. However, the substrate 110 can be formed in any other way, beof any other material, and exhibit any other property suitable tosupport the tactile layer 120 and define the fluid conduit 114 and fluidchannel 116. Likewise, the substrate (and the tactile layer) can includea substantially transparent (or translucent) portion and a substantiallyopaque portion. For example, the substrate can include a substantiallytransparent portion arranged over a display and a substantially opaqueportion adjacent the display and arranged about a periphery of thedisplay.

The substrate 110 can define the attachment surface, which functions toretain (e.g., hold, bond, and/or maintain the position of) theperipheral region 121 of the tactile layer 120. In one implementation,the substrate 110 is planar across the attachment surface such that thesubstrate 110 retains the peripheral region 121 of the tactile layer 120in planar form, such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/652,708. However, the attachment surface of the substrate 110 can beof any other geometry and retain the tactile layer 120 in any othersuitable form. In the retracted setting, the deformable region 122 canbe flush with the peripheral region 121. For example, the substrate 110can define a substantially planar surface across an attachment surfaceand a support member 119 that faces the tactile layer 120, theattachment surface retaining the peripheral region 121 of the tactilelayer 120, and the support member 119 adjacent and substantiallycontinuous with the attachment surface. The support member 119 can beconfigured to support the deformable region 122 against substantialinward deformation into the fluid conduit 114 (e.g., due to an inputapplied to the tactile surface at the deformable region 122), such as inresponse to an input or other force applied to the tactile surface atthe deformable region 122. In this example, the substrate 110 can definethe fluid conduit 114, which passes through the support member 119, andthe attachment surface can retain the peripheral region 121 insubstantially planar form. The deformable region 122 can rest on and/orbe supported in planar form against the support member 119 in theretracted setting, and the deformable region 122 can be elevated off ofthe support member 119 in the expanded setting. The support member 119can, thus, support the deformable region 122 of the tactile layer 120against inward deformation past the plane of the attachment surface. Inanother implementation, the support member 119 can define the fluidconduit 114, such that the fluid conduit 114 communicates fluid from thefluid channel 116 through the support member 119 and toward thedeformable region 122 to transition the deformable region 122 from theretracted setting to the expanded setting.

The substrate 110 can define (or cooperate with the tactile layer 120, adisplay 180, etc. to define) the fluid conduit 114 that communicatesfluid from the fluid channel 116 to the deformable region 122 of thetactile layer 120. The fluid conduit 114 can substantially correspond to(e.g., lie adjacent) the deformable region 122 of the tactile layer 120.The fluid conduit 114 can be machined, molded, stamped, etched, etc.into or through the substrate 110 and can be fluidly coupled to thefluid channel 116, the displacement device 140, and the deformableregion 122. A bore intersecting the fluid channel 116 can define thefluid conduit 114 such that fluid can be communicated from the fluidchannel 116 toward the fluid conduit 114, thereby transitioning thedeformable region 122 from the expanded setting to retracted setting.The axis of the fluid conduit 114 can be normal a surface of thesubstrate 110, can be non-perpendicular with the surface of thesubstrate 110, of non-uniform cross-section, and/or of any other shapeor geometry. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the fluid conduit 114 candefine a crescent-shaped cross-section. In this example, the deformableregion 122 can be coupled to (e.g., be bonded to) the substrate 110along the periphery of the fluid conduit 114. Thus, the deformableregion 122 can define a crescent-shape offset above the peripheralregion 121 in the expanded setting.

The substrate 110 can define (or cooperate with the sensor, a display180, etc. to define) the fluid channel 116 that communicates fluidthrough or across the substrate 110 to the fluid conduit 114. Forexample, the fluid channel 116 can be machined or stamped into the backof the substrate 110 opposite the attachment surface, such as in theform of an open trench or a set of parallel open trenches. The opentrenches can then be closed with a substrate 110 backing layer, thesensor, and/or a display 180 to form the fluid channel 116. A boreintersecting the open trench and passing through the attachment surfacecan define the fluid conduit 114, such that fluid can be communicatedfrom the fluid channel 116 to the fluid conduit 114 (and toward thetactile layer 120) to transition the deformable region 122 (adjacent thefluid conduit 114) between the expanded and retracted settings. The axisof the fluid conduit 114 can be normal the attachment surface, can benon-perpendicular with the attachment surface, of non-uniformcross-section, and/or of any other shape or geometry. Likewise, thefluid channel 116 be parallel the attachment surface, normal theattachment surface, non-perpendicular with the attachment surface, ofnon-uniform cross-section, and/or of any other shape or geometry.However, the fluid channel 116 and the fluid conduit 114 can be formedin any other suitable way and be of any other geometry.

In one implementation, the substrate 110 can define a set of fluidchannels 116. Each fluid channel 116 in the set of fluid channels 116can be fluidly coupled to a fluid conduit 114 in a set of fluid conduits114. Thus, each fluid channel 116 can correspond to a particular fluidconduit 114 and, thus, a particular deformable region 122.Alternatively, the substrate no can define the fluid channel 116, suchthat the fluid channel 116 can be fluidly coupled to each fluid conduit114 in the set of fluid conduits 114, each fluid conduit 114 fluidlycoupled serially along the length of the fluid channel 116. Thus, eachfluid channel 116 can correspond to a particular set of fluid conduits114 and, thus, deformable regions 122.

The substrate 110 can define the via 118 through the back surface of thesubstrate 110 to communicate fluid from the bladder 130, through oracross the back surface of the substrate no, and to the fluid channel116. In one example, the via 118 can be machined, stamped, or punchinginto the substrate 110 backing layer, which, in the foregoingimplementation, close the open trench(es) machined in the substrate 110to define the fluid channel(s) 116. Furthermore, the via 118 can includea valve (e.g., a butterfly valve) or pump to selectively communicatefluid from the bladder 130, through the via 118, into the fluid channel116. Likewise, the via 118 can be normal the attachment surface,non-perpendicular with the attachment surface, of non-uniformcross-section, and/or of any other shape or geometry. However, the fluidchannel 116 and the fluid conduit 114 can be formed in any othersuitable way and be of any other geometry

The substrate 110 can include a center region and a border area, thecenter region configured for arrangement over a computing device anddefining the fluid conduit 114, the border area configured to overhang aperiphery of the computing device and defining the via 118 passingthrough the back surface of the substrate 110, the substrate 110defining the fluid channel 116 coupled to the via 118 and to the fluidconduit 114. The center region is configured to overlay across a surfaceof a computing device. For example, the center region can define an areathat spans a front face of the computing device (e.g., a touchscreen),the perimeter of the center region coincident with a perimeter of thefront face of the computing device. The substrate 110 can be retainedacross the exterior surface of the computing device mechanically, suchas with a case that encompasses a perimeter of the device.Alternatively, the substrate no can include an elastomer and/or adhesivematerial that bonds to an exterior surface of the computing device. Inone example, a self-wetting adhesive is applied over the back surface ofthe substrate no (opposite the tactile layer 120) to mate and retain thesubstrate no against the surface of the computing device. In thisimplementation, the self-wetting adhesive can also limit air bubbles,excess reflection or light, etc., and/or maintain substantially highlight transmission from a touchscreen of the computing device and intothe substrate 110, thereby yielding suitable optical clarity at thejunction between the substrate 110 and the touchscreen. The substrate110 can also be removable from the surface and the dynamic tactileinterface 100 can also be reusable. The deformable region 122 of thetactile layer 120 coincident the center region of the substrate no cantransiently (i.e., intermittently) provide tactile guidance over thesurface (e.g., a touchscreen) of the computing device in the expandedsetting with minimal optical distortion of the surface across (i.e.,through) the deformable region 122, the peripheral region 121, the fluidchannel 116, and the fluid conduit 114 throughout the center region inthe retracted setting. For example, the substrate 110, the tactile layer120, and fluid within the closed fluid system can be of substantiallysimilar indices of refraction, and the tactile layer 120 and thesubstrate 110 can be of substantially uniform thickness across thecenter region in the retracted setting, as described in U.S. PatentApplication No. 61/841,176.

The border area of the substrate 110 can extend off an edge of thecomputing device to support the bladder 130 off the side of and adjacentto the computing device. The substrate 110 can support the tactile layer120 adjacent the attachment surface and the bladder 130 coupled to theback surface of the substrate 110 in order to form a singular structure143 defining a closed fluid system. The substrate 110 can support thebladder 130 remote from a display 180 of the computing device (i.e., offof the center region and coincident the border region) to limit opticalobstruction of the display 180 by the bladder 130 and the displacementdevice 140 obstruct the surface. The bladder 130 can be arrangedadjacent the display 180 and below the tactile surface to contain of thebladder 130 inside a hard case or housing 150 with the displacementdevice 140. The substrate 110 can also define a bezel proximal aperiphery of the substrate 110 (i.e., coincident the border region);wherein the substrate 110 defines a center region between the bezel,arranged over a display 180, and coincident the deformable region 122,the bezel supporting the bladder 130 and adjacent the display 180.

5. Bladder and Volume of Fluid

The dynamic tactile interface 100 includes a bladder 130 fluidly coupledto the via 118 and coupled to the back surface of the substrate 110, thebladder 130 defining a longitudinal axis and a volume of fluid arrangedwithin the bladder 130. Generally, the bladder 130 functions to supportfluid (and, thus, the volume of fluid) and communicate fluid to the via118 in order to expand and retract the deformable region 122.

The bladder 130 is fluidly coupled to the via 118, such as through aport 112, a valve, a spout, a sieve, etc., such that the bladder 130 canprovide fluid to communicate through the via 118 to transition thedeformable region 122. The bladder 130 can include a membrane 132substantially containing and surrounding fluid and an opening coincidentthe via 118. The membrane 132 can be substantially rigid, such that themembrane 132 preserves an initial shape of the bladder 130 under anapplied force, such as compression by the platen 149 or sleeve 147. Themembrane 132 can also be stiff but pliant under a particular appliedload (i.e., force). Furthermore, the membrane 132 can function as aspring and, thus, deform from a natural configuration to a deformedconfiguration under the particular applied load and return to (e.g.,snap back to) the natural configuration when the particular applied loadis removed. For example, the membrane 132 can include a silicone sheetdefining a square cross-section tube (i.e., the bladder 130) with anatural tendency to maintain the square cross-section. Under theparticular applied load, the silicone membrane 132 can buckle to conformto the particular applied load. When the particular applied load isremoved from the silicone membrane 132, the silicone membrane 132 canrestore (e.g., spring back to) the square cross-section (andsubstantially without the aid of fluid pressure). Alternatively, themembrane 132 can be substantially pliant. Thus, the membrane 132 can beof an elastomeric material, such as urethane, defining walls of thebladder 130 that can deform (e.g., flex or conform) under the particularapplied load to the bladder 130.

In one implementation, the tactile layer 120 can include a material of afirst modulus of elasticity, the substrate no can include a material ofa second modulus of elasticity greater the first modulus of elasticity,and the bladder 130 can include a membrane 132 of a third modulus ofelasticity greater than the first modulus of elasticity and lower thanthe second modulus of elasticity. Thus, when the displacement device 140compresses a portion of the bladder 130, the deformable region 122stretches from the retracted setting to the expanded setting morereadily than the bladder 130 expands. In this implementation, a forceapplied to actuate the displacement can be transformed to displace fluidfrom the bladder 130 and expand the deformable region 122 with minimalenergy losses due to expansion of the bladder 130.

The bladder 130 can be of any shape and cross-section suitable tosupport fluid within the bladder 130 and communicate fluid to the via118. For example, the bladder 130 can have a circular, rectangular,ovular, teardrop, parabolic, polygonal, dovetail, or any othercross-section. The bladder 130 can define the longitudinal axis of thebladder 130 such that a length dimension of the bladder 130 is longerthan a width dimension of the bladder 130. For example, the bladder 130can include a cylinder of a length of three centimeters and an outerdiameter of five millimeters. Alternatively, in another example, thebladder 130 can be formed by an elastomeric membrane 132 adhered along aperiphery of the sheet to the back surface of the substrate no, suchthat the bladder 130 supports fluid between the elastomeric membrane 132and the back surface of the substrate 110. In this example, a portion ofthe bladder 130 can be arranged coincident the via 118 such that fluidcan pass from the bladder 130 through the via 118. The longitudinal axisof the bladder 130 can be substantially linear. Alternatively, thelongitudinal axis of the bladder 130 can be substantially non-linear(and coincident the center of the cross-section of the bladder 130). Forexample, the membrane 132 can define a hollow ring torus (or a toroidalpolyhedron, etc.) bladder 130 supporting fluid within the hollow of thering torus bladder 130.

In one example, the membrane 132 can include a urethane sheet rolledinto a cylindrical tube. A first end of the tube can be closed (e.g.,with a plug or a seal) such that the first end of the tube preventsfluid flow through the first end. A second end of the tube opposite thefirst end can be arranged coincident the via 118, such that fluid cancommunicate through the second end of the bladder 130 into the via 118.

The bladder 130 can be coupled to the border area of the substrate 110,such that the bladder 130 lies over or adjacent the via 118 and oppositethe tactile layer 120. In one implementation, the bladder 130 can beformed by a molded elastomer bonded to the interior surface of thesubstrate 110. As the displacement device 140 acts on the bladder 130,the wall(s) of the bladder 130 can elastically deform as the internalvolume of the bladder 130 decreases, thereby displacing fluid out of thebladder 130 and through the via 118 to expand the deformable region 122.Once the displacement device 140 releases the bladder 130, the bladder130 can return to the natural form of the bladder 130, thus drawingfluid back out of the fluid channel 116 through the via 118 to retractthe deformable region 122. The bladder 130 can couple to the fluidchannel 116, the fluid conduit 114, and the deformable region 122through the via 118 to define a closed fluid system.

In another implementation, the bladder 130 can be arranged or coupled tothe back surface of the substrate 110, such that the longitudinal axisof the bladder 130 can parallel a plane of the back surface of thesubstrate 110. For example, the dynamic tactile interface 100 canfurther include a first block 142 coupled to and extending from the backsurface of the substrate 110 and a second block 142 coupled to andextending from the back surface of the substrate 110, the second block142 laterally offset from the first block 142. In this example, thebladder 130 can define an elongated cylindrical tube, which suspendsbetween the first block 142 and the second block 142, an outer surfaceof the bladder 130 offset from the back surface. A first end of thebladder 130 couples to the first block 142, a second end of the bladder130 opposite the first end of the bladder 130 couples to the secondblock 142, the longitudinal axis of the bladder 130 substantiallyparallel the back surface. The second block 142 defines a port 112fluidly coupled to the via 118. The first end of the bladder 130 can beclosed, the second end fluidly couples to the port 112 to communicatefluid from the bladder 130, through the port 112, and to the via 118.

In one implementation, the substrate 110 can include a continuous planarsublayer of a substantially transparent and relatively rigid material,such as acrylic (e.g., PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC). In thisimplementation, the substrate 110 defines a through-bore (i.e., thefluid conduit 114) in the center region and an open channel across aback surface of the substrate 110, the open channel extending from theborder area of the substrate 110 into the center region of the substrate110, the through-bore communicating fluid from the open channel into afluid conduit 114 between the tactile layer 120 and the substrate 110.In this implementation, the bladder 130 includes an elastomer sheetdefining a trough 134 and bonded to the back surface of the substrate110 over the via 118. The trough 134 can be molded (e.g., vacuum molded)into the elastomeric sheet. The elastomeric sheet can then be bonded tothe back surface of the substrate 110 with the trough 134 coincidentwith the end of the open channel in the border area the elastomericsheet, thereby closing the open channel to define the fluid channel 116.Thus, the trough 134 cooperates with the back surface to define thebladder 130 and the end of the fluid channel 116 at the bladder 130defining the via 118. Furthermore, in this implementation, the tactilelayer 120 can include a similar elastomeric sheet selectively bonded tothe attachment surface of the substrate 110 at the peripheral region121(s), the deformable region 122 arranged over the fluid conduit 114(i.e., the through bore) such that compression of the bladder 130displaces fluid through the via 118, into the fluid channel 116, andthrough the fluid conduit 114 toward the deformable region 122 totransition the deformable region 122 into the expanded setting. Forexample, the substrate 110 and the tactile layer 120 can be formed,include materials, and be assembled as described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/035,851, which is incorporated in its entiretyby this reference. Thus, in this implementation, the bladder 130 canhang below the substrate 110 from a surface opposite the tactile layer120 such that compression of the bladder 130 toward the substrate 110displaces fluid into the fluid channel 116 to expand the deformableregion 122.

In another implementation, the trough 134 can be molded (e.g., vacuummolded) into the elastomeric sheet bonded to the back surface of thesubstrate to form a substantially self-enclosed cross-section. Thetrough 134 and the substrate, thus, can cooperate to define the bladder130. The external portion of the trough 134 can be bonded to the backsurface of the substrate 110. The trough 134 can further be coincidentwith the end of the open channel in the border area the elastomericsheet thereby closing the open channel to define the fluid channel 116,and the end of the fluid channel 116 at the bladder 130 defining the via118. Therefore, the self-enclosed cross-section of the trough 134prevents substantial force applied directly to the substrate 110 and,therefore, prevents substantial lifting of the tactile layer 120 awayfrom the substrate 110.

In a similar implementation, the substrate 110 includes a continuousplanar substrate 110 of a transparent and relatively rigid material,defining a through-bore in the center region, an open channel across theback surface of the substrate 110, and a via 118 passing through borderarea at the end of the open channel, the open channel extending from theborder area of the substrate 110 into the center region of the substrate110. In this implementation, a uniform-thickness elastomeric sheet canbe bonded to the back surface of the substrate 110 to close the openchannel to define the fluid channel 116, thereby completing thesubstrate 110. The tactile layer 120 can define a similar elastomericlayer, and a trough 134 can be molded (e.g., vacuum molded) into thetactile layer 120. A region of the tactile layer 120 around the trough134 can then be bonded across the outer surface of the substrate 110 atthe border area with the trough 134 coincident with the via 118 in theborder area and the peripheral region 121 of the tactile layer 120 canbe similarly bonded to the outer surface of the substrate 110 across thecenter region, the deformable region 122 arranged over the fluid conduit114. The substrate 110 can thus cooperate with the trough 134 in thetactile layer 120 to form the bladder 130. Finally, a bend can then beformed along a (linear) perimeter between border area and the active ofthe substrate-tactile layer stack. For example, the bend can define aninety-degree included angle such that compression of the bladder 130perpendicular to the tactile surface displaces fluid through the via118, into the fluid channel 116, and through the fluid conduit 114toward the deformable region 122 to transition the deformable region 122into the expanded setting. Thus in this implementation, the bladder 130can hang below and outside of the substrate 110 that lateral compressionof the bladder 130 perpendicular to the tactile surface displaces fluidinto the fluid channel 116 to expand the deformable region 122.

In a similar implementation, the bladder 130 can be defined by anelastomeric membrane 132 coupled to the open channel, the elastomericmembrane 132 forming a balloon-like and malleable volume for containingfluid and allowing fluid to communicate from the bladder 130 to the openchannel or from the open channel into the bladder 130. The substrate 110again includes a substantially transparent and relatively rigidcontinuous planar substrate 110 that defines a through-bore in thecenter region, an open channel across the back surface of the substrate110, and a via 118 passing through the border area at the end of thefluid channel 116, the open channel extending from the border area ofthe substrate 110 into the center region of the substrate 110. In thisimplementation, the trough 134 and the substrate 110 join to define acavity 144 that contains the bladder 130. The trough 134 can have asubstantially dovetail-shaped cross-section or any other cross-sectionshape suitable for the trough 134. By compressing the bladder 130, fluidwithin the bladder 130 applies a force on the interior surface of thebladder 130 and the walls of the trough 134.

A variation of the dynamic tactile interface 100 further includes areservoir 138 fluidly coupled to the fluid channel 116, the fluidchannel 116 defining a first end and a second end opposite the firstend, the bladder 130 fluidly coupled to the first end of the fluidchannel 116, the reservoir 138 fluidly coupled to the second end of thefluid channel 116. Generally, the reservoir 138 can function to storefluid and build back pressure on the fluid system of the dynamic tactileinterface 100 (i.e., the fluid conduit 114, the fluid channel 116, thevia 118, and the bladder 130) such that the deformable regions 122 havea tendency to retract to the retracted setting when the displacementdevice 140 releases a portion of the bladder 130.

However, the substrate no and the tactile layer 120 can be of any othermaterial, can define the fluid channel 116, the via 118, and the fluidconduit 114 in any other way, and can function or cooperate in any otherway to define the bladder 130. Alternatively, the bladder 130 can be ofany other form or material physically coextensive with or discrete fromthe tactile layer 120 and/or the substrate no, such as described indescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/081,519, which isincorporated in its entirety by this reference. The bladder 130 can alsobe arranged over a portion of the substrate no coincident with thetouchscreen of the computing device. For example, the bladder 130 can bearranged in the center region of the substrate no, such as over thesubstrate 110 adjacent or physically coextensive with the tactile layer120. The bladder 130 can also be remote from the substrate no and thetactile layer 120.

The dynamic tactile interface 100 can include a volume of fluidcontained within the fluid channel 116 and the fluid conduit 114, thedisplacement device 140 displacing a portion of the volume of fluid (orthe entire volume of fluid) from the bladder 130 and into the fluidchannel 116 to transition the deformable region 122 from the retractedsetting into the expanded setting. Generally, the volume of fluid canfunction to flow through the fluid channel 116 and the fluid conduit 114in order to transition the deformable region 122 between the expandedand retracted settings. The volume of fluid can be manipulated by thedisplacement device 140 to selectively transition the deformable region122 between the expanded setting and the retracted setting. For example,the displacement device 140 can pump fluid into the fluid channel 116within the substrate 110 to expand the deformable region 122 therebytransitioning the deformable region 122 from the retracted setting intothe expanded setting, and the displacement device 140 can pump fluid outof the fluid channel 116 to retract the deformable region 122 therebytransitioning the deformable region 122 from the expanded setting backinto the retracted setting.

The volume of fluid can be substantially transparent, translucent,and/or opaque. Thus, the volume of fluid can be water, alcohol, siliconeoil, air, or any other suitable type of fluid (e.g., gas or liquid).Additionally, the volume of fluid can function to minimize a refractiveindex gradient between the substrate and the fluid. For example, thevolume of fluid can include suspended particulate (e.g., PMMAnanoparticules) that affect optical transmission of light through thetactile layer 120. Thus, the volume of fluid can aid transmission oflight through the tactile layer 120, limit reflection off the tactilesurface, and/or to and limit optical aberration due to the tactilelayer.

In one example of the foregoing implementation, the tactile layer 120and the substrate 110 can include a substantially transparent materialand the volume of fluid can include a substantially transparent fluid,the volume of fluid, the tactile layer 120, and the substrate nocommunicating an image rendered by the display 180.

6. Displacement Device

The displacement device 140 is configured to compress the bladder 130 todisplace fluid from the bladder 130 into the fluid channel 116 throughthe via 118 in order to transition the deformable region 122 from aretracted setting to an expanded setting. Generally, the displacementdevice 140 is configured to communicate a force or torque (e.g., aninput by the user to an actuator 160 coupled to the displacement device140) in order to compress the bladder 130.

6.1 Displacement Device: Platen and Structure

In one variation of the dynamic tactile interface 100 shown in FIG. 7,the displacement device 140 includes a structure 143 adjacent a firstside of the bladder 130 and a platen 149 adjacent a second side of thebladder 130 opposite the first side and compressing the bladder 130against the structure 143 in a direction substantially perpendicular thelongitudinal axis of the bladder 130 and substantially parallel the backsurface of the substrate 110 to displace fluid from the bladder 130,through the via 118, and into the fluid channel 116 to transition thedeformable region 122 from a retracted setting into an expanded setting,the deformable region 122 tactilely distinguishable from the peripheralregion 121 in the expanded setting. Generally, the platen 149 functionsto communicate a force or torque (e.g., from an input by the usercoupled to the platen 149) to translate, rotate, or otherwise move theplaten 149 toward the structure 143, thereby compressing the bladder 130toward the structure 143 as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. The platen 149can translate, rotate, or otherwise move parallel the back surface and,thus, compress the bladder 130 in a direction parallel the back surface,thereby limiting force applied perpendicular to the back surface of thesubstrate 110, which can cause the substrate 110 to lift away from acomputing device over which the dynamic tactile layer 120 can bearranged.

The platen 149 defines a movable (i.e., translatable, rotatable, etc.)surface configured to press on the first side of the bladder 130,thereby reducing the volume of the bladder 130 to displace fluid fromthe bladder 130 to the fluid channel 116. The platen 149 can also pressthe first side of the bladder 130 toward a structure 143—a secondsurface proximal the second side of the bladder 130—in order to compressthe bladder 130 between the platen 149 and the structure 143. Thestructure 143 can be a stationary surface or can move relative thebladder 130 and the platen 149 in order to compress the bladder 130. Forexample, the structure 143 can be rigidly coupled to the back surface ofthe substrate 110, such that the structure 143 extends substantiallyperpendicular the back surface. The platen 149 can translate toward thestructure 143, thereby compressing the first side of the bladder 130toward the second side of the bladder 130. In another example, thestructure 143 can be movably coupled to the back surface of thesubstrate 110, such that the structure 143 can translate parallel theback surface, along a path parallel a path along which the platen 149translates, and from a first position to a second position proximal theplaten 149. Thus, the platen 149 and the structure 143 can translatesubstantially simultaneously toward each other, thereby squeezing thefirst side of the bladder 130 and the second side of the bladder 130together.

In one implementation, the platen 149 can include a member with asubstantially planar surface adjacent the first side of the bladder 130.In an implementation in which the membrane 132 of the bladder 130 issubstantially pliant, the first side of the bladder 130 can conform tothe planar surface of the platen 149.

In another implementation, the platen 149 can define a contactingsurface that contacts the first side of the bladder 130 andsubstantially conforms to the natural form of the bladder 130 (e.g., aform of the bladder 130 when the bladder 130 is fully expanded). Forexample, the bladder 130 can include an elongated cylindrical tube. Thecontacting surface can define a curved surface with a radius ofcurvature substantially corresponding to a radius of curvature of anexternal surface of the bladder 130. In this example, the contactingsurface can contact a portion of a circumferential surface of thebladder 130 (e.g., one-fourth or one-half).

The platen 149 and/or the structure 143 can be of a substantially rigidmaterial (e.g., acrylic, polycarbonate, etc.) such that force applied totranslate the structure 143 and/or the platen 149 can be communicated tocompression of the bladder 130 without substantial losses due tocompression of the platen 149 and the structure 143. Alternatively, theplaten 149 and/or the structure 143 can be of a compressible material orinclude a compressible coating. The compressible material (or coating)can partially collapse or conform to the bladder 130 as the structure143 and platen 149 compress the bladder 130, thereby limiting localstress (and strain) applied to the membrane 132 of the bladder 130 andrisk of puncture of the bladder 130. For example, the platen 149 caninclude a porous compressible coating (e.g., foam) adjacent the firstside of the bladder 130, the porous compressible coating conforming toan outer surface of the bladder 130, such that the compressible coatingsupports a substantial portion of the surface area of the bladder 130proximal the platen 149 and the platen 149 can evenly compress thesubstantial portion of the bladder 130 to limit strain on the membrane132 of the bladder 130.

The platen 149 can be extend from the back surface of the substrate noand can be movably coupled to the back surface. In one implementation,the platen 149 can be coupled to a guide or a track etched (or otherwiseformed) in the back surface of the substrate no. The platen 149 caninclude a member configured to mate with the guide and retain the platen149 adjacent the back surface with a translational degree of freedom.The platen 149 can translate along a substantially linear path.Alternatively, the platen 149 can translate non-linearly, such as alonga sinuous path.

In one example of the foregoing implementation, the displacement device140 includes a housing 150, a platen 149, and a sliding lever thatslides along a track defined by the housing 150 and thereby pushes theplaten 149 as the lever slides in order to compress the bladder 130. Asdescribed above, once the substrate no/tactile layer 120/bladder 130assembly is arranged over the touchscreen of the device, the bladder 130is supported off the side of the device by the housing 150. The platen149 can be adjacent the bladder 130 and coupled to the sliding lever.The sliding lever acts as a user interface, which a user can manuallymanipulate to translate the lever. Displacement of the lever causescorresponding displacement of the platen 149, which can compress thebladder 130.

In another implementation, the platen 149 can be rotationally coupled tothe back surface. For example, the platen 149 can pivot about a pincoupling the platen 149 to the back surface, the pin retaining theplaten 149 adjacent the back surface with a rotational degree of freedomabout the pin. The bladder 130 can be arranged about the pin defining acrescent shape with a focus coincident the pivot axis. The platen 149can pivot about the pin to compress an end of the crescent shape.

Additionally, the platen 149 can translate, rotate, or otherwise movesubstantially parallel (or coincident) a central (e.g., longitudinal)axis of the bladder 130. For example, the bladder 130 can include anelongated cylinder with a longitudinal axis through the center of thecircular cross-section of the elongated cylinder. Platen 149 cantranslate parallel the longitudinal axis of the bladder 130 such thatthe first side of the bladder 130 includes an end of the bladder 130with a circular cross-section. The platen 149 can also translate,rotate, or otherwise move substantially perpendicular the central orlongitudinal axis of the bladder 130. In a similar example, the platen149 compresses a circumferential surface of the elongated cylinderperpendicular the longitudinal axis such that the first side of thebladder 130 includes a portion of the circumferential surface of thebladder 130. Alternatively, the platen 149 can move in any suitabledirection relative the central axis of the bladder 130.

In one example of the foregoing implementation, the bladder 130 caninclude a crescent-shaped vessel with a substantially circularcross-section and a central axis coincident a center of the circularcross-section. The platen 149 can be configured to rotate about a pincoincident a focus of the crescent-shaped vessel, the surface of theplaten 149 coincident an end of the bladder 130 with a circularcross-section.

In one example implementation, the bladder 130 is defined by a trough134 with a substantially canoe-like cross-section and the substrate 110corresponding to a flat top portion of the canoe-like-shaped bladder130. The bladder 130 can include substantially collapsible bow and sternportions of the canoe-like shape. Thus when the platen 149 appliespressure to the bladder 130, the collapsible bow and stern portionscollapse more readily than the rest of the trough 134 and collapse suchthat the elastomer at the collapsible bow and stern portions are flushwith the substrate no in the collapsed state, thereby reducing stress onthe elastomer at the collapsible bow and stern. In this exampleimplementation, the platen 149 can compress the bladder 130 by pressingon an end of the bladder 130 (e.g., the bow and/or stern portions). Asthe slide lever slides along the track defined by the housing 150, thelever displaces the platen 149, which presses on the bladder 130 causingthe collapsible bow and/or stern to collapse, thereby displacing fluidfrom the bladder 130.

However, the platen 149 can translate, rotate, or move relative the backsurface of the substrate no and be coupled to the back surface in anyother way suitable to compress the bladder 130.

In an implementation of the variation shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, thedisplacement device 140 can include a housing 150, a platen 149, and acam 148. As described above, the substrate no/tactile layer 120/bladder130 assembly can be arranged over a touchscreen of the computing deviceand the bladder 130 can be supported off the side of the device. Ahousing 150 can then receive the device with the bladder 130 adjacent aguide defined by the housing 150. The platen 149 can, thus, run in theguide, and the cam 148 can displace the platen 149 linearly into thebladder 130 as the cam 148 rotates about a pivot defined by the housing150. For example, the cam 148 can be physically coextensive with a leverarranged parallel and adjacent a long side of an attached smartphonesuch that a user, holding the smartphone in a right hand of the user,can grasp and rotate the lever with an index finger of the right hand,thus displacing the platen 149 into the bladder 130, compressing thebladder 130, and displacing fluid into the deformable region 122. Toretract the deformable region 122, the user can flip the lever back toan original position of the lever, thereby releasing the platen 149 fromthe bladder 130.

In this implementation, the cam 148 can define two steady-statepositions or rest states. For example, the cam 148 can define a firstplanar surface and a second planar surface perpendicular to the firstplanar surface and connect to the first planar surface by a curved orprofiled surface. Thus, the first planar surface can rest against theplaten 149 opposite the bladder 130 in the retracted setting shown inFIG. 4A, the curved or profiled surface can engage the platen 149 alonga sliding line contact as the cam 148 is actuated, and the second planarsurface can rest against the platen 149 opposite the bladder 130 in theexpanded setting, as shown in FIG. 4B.

However, in this implementation, the platen 149, the housing 150, andthe cam 148 can cooperate in any other way to compress and release thebladder 130 to transition the deformable region 122 into the expandedsetting and the retracted setting, respectively.

In another implementation, the dynamic tactile interface 100 can furtherinclude an actuator 160 translating the platen 149 parallel the backsurface and along the longitudinal axis of the bladder 130 to compressthe bladder 130 against the structure 143 in response to manualactuation of the actuator 160. The actuator 160 can define a levermovably coupled to the housing 150, the lever defining a manualinterface actuating the actuator 160 in response to a manual input tothe lever. Alternatively, the actuator 160 can define a button, knob, orany other means suitable to translate, rotate, or move the platen 149.Furthermore, the actuator 160 can couple to the structure 143 to actuatethe structure 143 toward the platen 149, thereby squeezing the firstside of the bladder 130 and the second side of the bladder 130 together.For example, the actuator 160 can include a first lever and a secondlever coupled to an outer surface of a housing 150 transiently arrangingthe substrate 110 and tactile layer 120 over a computing device. Thefirst lever can couple to the platen 149 and translate from firstposition to a center position. The second lever, coupled to thestructure 143, can translate toward and parallel the first lever from asecond position to the center position. Thus, a user can actuate theplaten 149 and the structure 143 substantially simultaneously bysqueezing the first lever (from the first position) and the second lever(from the second position) to the center position substantiallysimultaneously.

In another implementation of the variation shown in FIG. 9, the tactilelayer 120 defines a second deformable region 122 and the substrate 110defines a second fluid conduit 114 adjacent the second deformable region122 and a second fluid channel 116 fluidly coupled to the second fluidconduit 114. In this implementation, the dynamic tactile interface 100also includes a second bladder 130 opposite the platen 149 from thebladder 130, the second bladder 130 fluidly coupled to the second fluidchannel 116 and the second fluid conduit 114 and configured totransition the second deformable region 122, the platen 149 configuredto compress the bladder 130 and to release the second bladder 130 totransition the deformable region 122 from the retracted setting to theexpanded setting and to transition the second deformable region 122 fromthe expanded setting to the retracted setting substantiallysimultaneously. Likewise, as the platen 149 moves toward the secondbladder 130 and, thus, away from the bladder 130, the platen 149compresses the second bladder 130 and releases (i.e., expands) thebladder 130, thereby transition the second deformable region 122 fromthe retracted setting to the expanded setting. The dynamic tactile canalso include a display 180 coupled to the back surface of the substrate110 and selectively rendering an image of a first virtual keyboard andan image of a second virtual keyboard, the deformable region 122 alignedwith a key of the first virtual keyboard and the second deformableregion 122 aligned with a key of a second virtual keyboard.

6.2 Displacement Device: Sleeve

One variation of the dynamic tactile interface 100 shown in FIGS. 11A,11B, and 11C includes a sleeve 147 defining a valley 146 of a firstcross-section proximal a first end of the sleeve 147 and of a secondcross-section proximal a second end of the sleeve 147, the firstcross-section of an area less than an area of the second cross-section,the sleeve 147 operable between a first position and a second position;a bladder 130 fluidly coupled to the via 118, adjacent the back surfaceof the substrate 110, defining a longitudinal axis, and arranged withinthe valley 146; a volume of fluid arranged within the bladder 130; andan actuator 160 coupled to the sleeve 147 and translating the sleeve 147in a direction substantially parallel the longitudinal axis from thefirst position to the second position to displace fluid from the bladder130, through the via 118, and into the fluid channel 116 to transitionthe deformable region 122 from the retracted setting to the expandedsetting, the sleeve 147 proximal a first end of the bladder 130releasing a portion of the bladder 130 in the first position andproximal a second end of the bladder 130 and constricting the portion ofthe bladder 130 in the second position. Generally, the sleeve 147functions to constrict the bladder 130 as the sleeve 147 travels alongthe longitudinal axis, thereby reducing the effective volume of thebladder 130 and displacing fluid from the bladder 130 into the via 118.

The sleeve 147 can define a valley 146 of a first cross-section proximala first end of the sleeve 147 and of a second cross-section proximal asecond end of the sleeve 147, the first cross-section of an area lessthan an area of the second cross-section. The bladder 130, fluidlycoupled to the via 118 and adjacent the back surface of the substrate110, can define a longitudinal axis and be arranged within the valley146. The sleeve 147 can be of any material and of any geometry suitableto support the bladder 130 and displace fluid from the bladder 130 byconstricting a portion of the bladder 130. The sleeve 147 can be of asubstantially rigid material (e.g., acrylic, polycarbonate, etc.) suchthat force applied to translate the valley 146 can be communicated toconstrict of the bladder 130 without substantially losses due tocompression of the material of the sleeve 147. Alternatively, the sleeve147 can be of a compressible material or include a compressible coatinglining a surface of the valley 146. The compressible material (orcoating) can partially collapse or conform to the bladder 130 as thestructure 143 and sleeve 147 compress the bladder 130, thereby limitinglocal stress (and strain) applied to the membrane 132 of the bladder 130and risk of puncture of the bladder 130. For example, the sleeve 147 caninclude a porous compressible coating (e.g., foam) lining an innersurface of the valley 146 and adjacent the bladder 130, the porouscompressible coating conforming to an outer surface of the bladder 130,such that the compressible coating supports a substantial portion of thesurface area of the bladder 130 proximal the sleeve 147 and the sleeve147 can evenly compress the substantial portion of the bladder 130 tolimit strain on the membrane 132 of the bladder 130.

The sleeve 147 and the valley 146 of the sleeve 147 can define anygeometry suitable to support the bladder 130 and travel along the lengthof the bladder 130. In one implementation shown in FIG. 12, the valley146 can define a dovetail cross section including a narrow neck profileand a wide tail profile, the narrow neck profile adjacent the backsurface and limiting deformation and deflection of the bladder 130toward the back surface. Alternatively, the valley 146 can have anyother cross-section suitable to prevent lifting of the tactile layer 120away from the substrate no. For example, the valley 146 can form asubstantially circular cross-section with a portion of the circularcross-section coincident an intersection of the trough 134 of thebladder 130 with the tactile layer 120. Thus, by compressing the bladder130 toward the tactile layer 120, the fluid applies force to an arcuateportion of the valley 146 from which the trough 134 is formed ratherthan the tactile layer 120. The valley 146 can also define acanoe-shape, tear-drop, polygonal, or any other cross-section.

In another implementation, the bladder 130 defines a bladder 130longitudinal length and the sleeve 147 defines a sleeve 147 longitudinallength longer than the bladder 130 longitudinal length, an entirety ofthe bladder 130 longitudinal length supported by the valley 146 in thefirst position and in the second position as shown in FIG. 15. Thus, asthe sleeve 147 travels along the length of the bladder 130, the supportsthe bladder 130 and limits stretching (i.e., bubbling) of the bladder130 proximal the second end of the sleeve 147. Therefore, the sleeve 147can communicate translation substantially directly to compression of thebladder 130 and displacement of fluid from the bladder 130 with limitedlosses due to elastic expansion of the bladder 130. Alternatively, thesleeve 147 can span a portion of the length of the bladder 130.

In another implementation, the valley 146 can define a contactingsurface that contacts one or more surfaces of the bladder 130 andsubstantially conforms to the natural form of the bladder 130 (e.g., aform of the bladder 130 when the bladder 130 is fully expanded). Forexample, the bladder 130 can include an elongated cylindrical tube. Thecontacting surface can define a curved surface with a radius ofcurvature substantially corresponding to a radius of curvature of anexternal surface of the bladder 130. In this example, the contactingsurface can contact a portion of a circumferential surface of thebladder 130 (e.g., one-fourth or one-half).

The sleeve 147 defines a movable (i.e., translatable, rotatable, etc.)surface configured to compress the surfaces of the bladder 130, therebyreducing the volume of the bladder 130 to displace fluid from thebladder 130 to the fluid channel 116. The sleeve 147 can translate,rotate, or otherwise move substantially parallel (or coincident) acentral (e.g., longitudinal) axis of the bladder 130. A path defined bythe travel of the sleeve 147 can be linear or nonlinear. For example,the bladder 130 can include an elongated cylinder with a longitudinalaxis through the center of the circular cross-section of the elongatedcylinder. The sleeve 147 can translate parallel the longitudinal axis ofthe bladder 130 such that the first side of the bladder 130 includes anend of the bladder 130 with a circular cross-section. Alternatively, thesleeve 147 can move in any suitable direction relative the central axisof the bladder 130.

In an implementation in which the membrane 132 of the bladder 130 issubstantially pliant, the bladder 130 can conform to the valley 146.Like the platen 149, the sleeve 147 can travel parallel the longitudinal(or central) axis of the bladder 130, thereby constricting (orcompressing inner surfaces of the bladder 130 toward each other).However, the sleeve 147 can substantially or partially surround thebladder 130 in order to constrict the bladder 130. Alternatively, innersurfaces of the sleeve 147 can travel perpendicular the central axis ofthe bladder 130 to constrict the walls of the bladder 130. For example,the sleeve 147 can define a valley 146 of a substantially circularcross-section, the valley 146 including movable surfaces adjacent themembrane 132 of the bladder 130 that can radially constrict a portion ofthe bladder 130. The movable surfaces define claws that draw radiallytoward the central axis of the bladder 130 to constrict the bladder 130and return radially away from the central axis to expand the bladder130.

The sleeve 147 can extend from the back surface of the substrate no andcan be movably coupled to the back surface. In one implementation, thesleeve 147 can be coupled to a guide or a track etched (or otherwiseformed) in the back surface of the substrate 110. The sleeve 147 caninclude a member configured to mate with the guide and retain the sleeve147 adjacent the back surface with a translational degree of freedom.The sleeve 147 can translate along a substantially linear path.Alternatively, the sleeve 147 can translate non-linearly, such as alonga sinuous path.

In an implementation of the variation shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, thebladder 130 can be defined by an elastomeric sheet with a substantiallycanoe-like cross-section cooperating with the back surface of thesubstrate 110 to define canoe-like-shaped bladder 130. The sleeve 147engages the trough 134 and defines a longitudinal axis coincident thelongitudinal axis of the bladder 130. The sleeve 147 is also taperedalong the longitudinal axis of the bladder 130 extending from the bow tothe stern and is coupled to the slide lever. If, for example, the sleeve147 slides from bow to stern along the bladder 130, the sleeve 147 candefine a ramp cross-section, such that a side of the ramp cross-sectiondistal the stern can be configured to displace the bladder 130 more thana side of the ramp cross-section proximal the stern (e.g., the side ofthe ramp cross-section distal the stern can be oriented closer to thesubstrate no than the side of the ramp cross-section proximal thestern). Thus, as the sleeve 147 slides, the sleeve 147 applies graduatedpressure to the bladder 130, wherein graduation corresponds to the angleof the ramp cross-section, thereby decreasing stress on the bladder 130while still deforming the bladder 130 and, thus, displacing fluid fromthe bladder 130. The bladder 130 can also preferentially collapse atselect regions along a length of the bladder 130.

In an example of the previous implementation shown in FIG. 12, thetrough 134 molded from the elastomeric sheet forms a substantiallydovetail cross-section, in which a substantially converged portion ofthe dovetail cross-section (i.e., a narrow neck portion) can be adjacentthe substrate no and a diverged portion of the dovetail cross-section(i.e., a portion of the cross-section that is widest) can be oppositethe tactile layer 120. The substrate no closes the trough 134 to formthe bladder 130. The sleeve 147 can define a valley 146 also of adovetail cross-section tapering in inner cross-section area (of thevalley 146) from a first (larger area) end of the sleeve 147 to a second(smaller area) end of the sleeve 147. The sleeve 147 can be of a lengthequal to a length dimension of the bladder 130 plus a maximumdisplacement distance (i.e., a maximum distance the sleeve 147 travelsto displace fluid from the bladder 130). The sleeve 147 can define thefirst position proximal (or coincident) a first end of the bladder 130,such that a portion of the valley 146 contacts and supports the entirelength of the bladder 130 in the first position. Likewise, the sleeve147 can define the second position, such that a portion of the valley146 contacts and supports the entirety of the bladder 130, the sleeve147 substantially optimizes fluid displacement from the bladder 130, andthe sleeve 147 is located between the first end of the bladder 130 andthe second end of the bladder 130 in the second position. The valley 146can support the bladder 130 such that the first end of the sleeve 147 isarranged proximal the second end of the bladder 130 and the second endof the sleeve 147 is arranged proximal the first end of the bladder 130.The converged, narrow-neck portion of the dovetail cross-section of thevalley 146 substantially forms a compression surface toward which thebladder 130 is compressed as the sleeve 147 slides along the length ofthe bladder 130. The compression surface can substantially limit forceapplied by the fluid within the bladder 130 directly on the substrateno, thereby limiting lift of the substrate no off an adjacent device oraway from the housing 150. When the tactile layer 120 forms thecompression surface, a compressive force applied by the fluid on thesubstrate 110 and, therefore, the tactile layer 120 causes the tactilelayer 120 to lift off (i.e., separate) from the substrate 110 or bendaway from the substrate 110. Thus, compression of the bladder 130 towardthe substrate 110 and, therefore, the tactile layer 120 applies pressureto the converged portion of the dovetail cross-section and limitslifting of the tactile layer 120 away from the substrate 110.

The actuator 160 can be coupled to the sleeve 147 and can be configuredto translate the sleeve 147 in a direction substantially parallel thelongitudinal axis from the first position to the second position todisplace fluid from the bladder 130, through the via 118, and into thefluid channel 116 to transition the deformable region 122 from theretracted setting to the expanded setting, the sleeve 147 proximal afirst end of the bladder 130 releasing a portion of the bladder 130 inthe first position and proximal a second end of the bladder 130 andconstricting the portion of the bladder 130 in the second position. Theactuator 160 can also be coupled to an external surface of a housing 150engaging a computing device and transiently supporting the substrate 110and tactile layer 120 over a display 180 of the computing device. Theactuator 160 can define a lever, a button, a knob, a switch, or anyother manually actuable interface configured to displace the sleeve 147to compress the bladder 130. Alternatively, the actuator 160 can be anelectromechanical device configured to electromechanically translate thesleeve 147 (and/or the platen 149).

In one implementation, the actuator 160 can define a first stop 171corresponding to the first position of the sleeve 147 and a second stop172 corresponding to the second position of the sleeve 147, the actuator160 translating between the first stop 171 and the second stop 172, thefirst stop 171 and the second stop 172 limiting translation of thesleeve 147 to between the first position and the second position. Inthis implementation, the actuator 160 can restrict a travel distance toprevent over compression or over expansion of the bladder 130 when thesleeve 147 travels outside a defined travel space between (andincluding) the first position and the second position. In an example,the actuator 160 can be translationally coupled to a track in anexternal surface of the housing 150, the actuator 160 translating withinthe track. The first stop 171 and the second stop 172 can include a lip,an edge, or a detent in the track, which can limit travel of theactuator 160 beyond the first stop 171. The first stop 171 and thesecond stop 172 can also define a semi-permanent gate inserted in thetrack (or other path of the actuator 160) and can be moved torecalibrate appropriate travel distances, the first position, and thesecond position for the sleeve 147. Over time, fluid within the bladder130 can evaporate. Thus, to maintain fluid pressure within the bladder130 and a volume of fluid for transitioning the deformable region 122, auser can move the semi-permanent gate to recalibrate the first positionand the second position of the sleeve 147 and compensate for fluid loss.

In one example, the displacement device 140 includes a housing 150, asleeve 147, and a actuator 160 that slides along a track defined by thehousing 150 and thereby pushes the sleeve 147 as the actuator 160 slidesin order to compress the bladder 130. As described above, once thesubstrate no/tactile layer 120/bladder 130 assembly can be arranged overa touchscreen of the device, the bladder 130 is supported off the sideof the device by the housing 150. The bladder 130 can be arranged withinthe valley 146 of the sleeve 147 and the sleeve 147 can be coupled tothe actuator 160. The actuator 160 acts as a user interface, which auser can manually manipulate to translate the sleeve 147. Displacementof the actuator 160 causes corresponding displacement of the platen 149,which can compress the bladder 130.

However, the sleeve 147 and the actuator 160 can translate, rotate, ortravel relative the back surface of the substrate 110 and be coupled tothe back surface in any other way suitable to compress the bladder 130.

In this and other variations, the dynamic tactile interface 100 canfurther include a shield substantially or partially surrounding thebladder 130, the shield limiting outward radial expansion of the bladder130 (i.e., bubbling) in response to compression of a portion of thebladder 130. Thus, the shield can function to provide a support surfaceabout the bladder 130 such that pressure applied to the bladder 130 becommunicated to can preferentially displace fluid from the bladder 130rather than stretch the membrane 132 of the bladder 130.

6.3 Displacement Device: Stylus

Another variation of the dynamic tactile interface 100 includes: atactile layer 120 defining a peripheral region 121 and a deformableregion 122 adjacent the peripheral region 121, the deformable region 122operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, thedeformable region 122 tactilely distinguishable from the peripheralregion 121 in the expanded setting; a substrate 110 including anattachment surface and coupled to the peripheral region 121, thesubstrate 110 defining a fluid conduit 114 adjacent the deformableregion 122 and a fluid channel 116 fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit114; a border region proximal a periphery of the substrate 110, theborder region defining a cavity 144 configured to receive an instrument141, the cavity 144 supporting the instrument 141 in a firstconfiguration and releasing the instrument 141 in a secondconfiguration; and a bladder 130 fluidly coupled to the fluid channel116 and coupled to the cavity 144, the instrument 141 compressing aportion of the bladder 130 in the first configuration to displace fluidfrom the bladder 130 into the fluid channel 116 to transition thedeformable region 122 from the retracted setting to the expandedsetting, the instrument 141 releasing a portion of the bladder 130 inthe second configuration. Generally, the dynamic tactile interface 100functions to define a housing 150 for a computing device configured toreceive an instrument 141 such as a stylus 141 and store the instrument141 in a cavity 144 adjacent the computing device, the cavity 144supporting the bladder 130, the instrument 141 compressing the bladder130 when the instrument 141 is inserted within the cavity 144. Thus, theinstrument 141 cooperates with the cavity 144 to define the displacementdevice 140. The instrument can press directly on the membrane of thebladder. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, the instrument can press ona platen, lever, or other member adjacent the bladder, such thattranslation of the platen in response insertion of the instrument in thecavity compresses the bladder.

A similar variation of the dynamic tactile interface 100 includes: atactile layer 120 defining a peripheral region 121 and a deformableregion 122 adjacent the peripheral region 121, the deformable region 122operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, thedeformable region 122 tactilely distinguishable from the peripheralregion 121 in the expanded setting; a substrate 110 including anattachment surface and coupled to the peripheral region 121, thesubstrate 110 defining a fluid conduit 114 adjacent the deformableregion 122 and a fluid channel 116 fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit114; a housing 150 supporting the tactile layer 120 and the substrate110, configured to engage a computing device, and transiently retainingthe substrate 110 and the tactile layer 120 over a surface of thecomputing device, the housing 150 defining a cavity 144 adjacent thecomputing device and configured to transiently receive an instrument141, the cavity 144 supporting the instrument 141 in a firstconfiguration and releasing the instrument 141 in a secondconfiguration; and a bladder 130 fluidly coupled to the fluid channel116 and arranged within the cavity 144, the instrument 141 compressing aportion of the bladder 130 in the first configuration to displace fluidfrom the bladder 130 into the fluid channel 116 to transition thedeformable region 122 from the retracted setting to the expandedsetting, the instrument 141 releasing a portion of the bladder 130 inthe first configuration to displace fluid from the fluid channel 116 andtransition the deformable region 122 from the expanded setting to theretracted setting.

In this variation and the preceding variation, as a user inserts theinstrument 141 (e.g., a stylus 141) into a home position in the hardcase, the displacement device 140 can communicate a force provide by theuser through the stylus 141 into the bladder 130 in order to displacefluid into the fluid channel 116. In yet another example, thedisplacement device 140 can trip a latch to release a spring, therebyapplying force to the bladder 130 in response to a force or torqueapplied by a user to open the hard case or to insert a stylus 141 into ahome position.

In one implementation shown in FIG. 2B, the displacement device 140includes a housing 150 and can be configured to receive the instrument141, such as a stylus 141. The housing 150 couples to and/or encases aperimeter of the attached mobile computing device and defines a firstcavity 144 and a second cavity 145 that are configured to accept thestylus 141, as shown in FIGS. 3, 16A, 16B, and 16C. As described above,once the substrate no, tactile layer 120, and bladder 130 assembly canbe arranged over a touchscreen of the device, the bladder 130 issupported off the side of the device. In this variation, the housing 150defines the second bore adjacent the bladder 130. By manually insertingthe stylus 141 into the second bore, the stylus 141 contacts and,therefore, compresses the bladder 130, thereby displacing fluid out ofthe bladder 130 into the fluid channel 116 in order to expand thedeformable region 122. The stylus 141 can then be removed from thesecond cavity 145 and returned to the first cavity 144 that is remotefrom the bladder 130, thereby releasing pressure on the bladder 130.Thus, fluid can flow back into the bladder 130 and the deformable region122 can return to the retracted setting.

In one example, the stylus 141 is cylindrical with a hemispherical,conical, or frustoconical end. The first and second cavity 145 s canalso be cylindrical in form, such that each supports a running fit withthe stylus 141. The stylus 141 can also include a cap at a posterior endof the stylus 141, the cap larger in diameter than a main section of thestylus 141 to define an endstop for insertion of the stylus 141 intoeither of the cavity 144 d. The cap can also be of an elastomer, such assilicone, and/or include a rib or other feature to aid extraction of thestylus 141 from either of the cavity 144 s. The main section of thestylus 141 can be rigid, such as extruded aluminum or a cold-rolledstainless steel tube, and the anterior end of the stylus 141 can includea soft tip, such as a velvet or wool tip. Alternatively, the cavity 144can define a stop (e.g., a lip or other protrusion) extending from aninner surface of the cavity 144 and proximal the bladder 130, the stopconfigured to mate with a surface of the instrument 141 in the firstconfiguration to limit translation of the instrument 141 into the cavity144 beyond the stop and to define a maximum displacement of fluid fromthe bladder 130.

In one implementation, the substrate 110 defines multiple fluid conduits114 fluidly coupled to the bladder 130 by the via 118, and the tactilelayer 120 defines a set of deformable regions 122, each adjacent a fluidconduit 114, such that compression of the bladder 130 displaced fluidinto the fluid channel 116 to substantially simultaneously expand all ofthe deformable regions 122 in the set of deformable regions 122. Forexample, in this implementation, each deformable region 122 in the setof deformable regions 122 can correspond to and be substantially alignedwith a character of a virtual alphanumeric keyboard rendered on thetouchscreen such that each deformable region 122 in the set ofdeformable regions 122 can tactilely guide a user in selecting acorresponding key from the virtual keyboard. Thus, when the stylus 141is inserted into the second bore, the stylus 141 can compress thebladder 130 to expand the set of deformable regions 122 substantiallysimultaneously. Then, to retract the set of deformable regions 122, thestylus 141 can be returned to the second cavity 145.

Alternatively, in a similar implementation, the stylus 141 can define aflat along a dorsal side such that, when the stylus 141 is inserted intothe first cavity 144 with dorsal side of the stylus 141 facing away fromthe bladder 130, the ventral side of the stylus 141 contacts andcompresses the bladder 130. However, in this implementation, when thestylus 141 is inserted into the first cavity 144 with the dorsal side ofthe stylus 141 facing the bladder 130, the flat along the dorsal side ofthe stylus 141 passes the bladder 130 without substantially compressingthe bladder 130. Thus, in this implementation, a user can adjust anorientation of the stylus 141 (e.g., by rotating the stylus 141 180°about an (anteroposterior) axis of the stylus 141 within the firstcavity 144 to switch the deformable region 122 between the expanded andretracted settings. The first cavity 144 can also define one or morefeatures that engage the stylus 141 in either of the foregoing positionsas the stylus 141 is inserted therein. Thus, in this implementation, thehousing 150 can omit the second cavity 145 as the first cavity 144defines a home position for the stylus 141 with the deformable region122 both retracted and expanded.

Similarly, the stylus 141 can define a first diameter or cross sectionalong a first section of the stylus 141, and the stylus 141 can define asecond diameter or cross section along a second section of the stylus141 discrete from the first section such that the stylus 141 can beflipped 180° about a dorsoventral axis of the stylus 141 and reinsertedinto the first cavity 144 to switch between retracted and expandedsettings at the deformable region 122 as the first section of the stylus141 clears (i.e., does not substantially compress) the bladder 130 andas the second section of the stylus 141 does compress the bladder 130when inserted into the first cavity 144. In a similar configuration, thestylus 141 can refine a constant cross-section of varying radius suchthat, once inserted into the first cavity 144, the stylus 141 can berotated to different arcuate positions, thereby adjusting compression ofthe bladder 130 (and thus the size, shape, etc. of the deformable region122. In this configuration, the base (i.e., far end) of the first cavity144 can engage and support a tip of the stylus 141 such that the axis ofthe stylus 141 is maintained as the stylus 141 rotates. Furthermore, inthis or other similar implementations, the stylus 141 can be keyed forthe opening of the first (and second) cavity 144 such that the stylus141 can only be inserted into the first cavity 144 in one (or in aselect few) orientation(s), as shown in FIG. 11. For example, the stylus141 can be keyed to the input side of the first cavity 144 such that thestylus 141 does not compress the bladder 130 when inserted but can bedriven into the platen 149 to compress the bore by rotating the stylus141 once fully inserted into the first cavity 144.

Furthermore, the substrate 110 can define a second set of fluid conduits114, a second via 118 passing through the substrate 110 in the borderarea, and a second fluid channel 116 coupled to the second via 118 andto the second set of fluid conduits 114. The tactile layer 120 can alsoinclude a second set of deformable regions 122, each deformable region122 in the second set of deformable regions 122 adjacent a fluid conduit114 in the second set of fluid conduits 114. The dynamic tactileinterface 100 can further include a second bladder 130 configured tocontain fluid and coupled to the border area over the second via 118 andopposite the tactile layer 120. The second bladder 130, the second via118, the second fluid channels 116, the second set of fluid conduits114, and the second set of deformable regions 122 can thus define asecond closed fluid system discreet from the (first) closed fluid systemdescribed above. In this implementation, the second cavity 145 can beadjacent the second bladder 130 such that the (first) set of deformableregions 122 can be transitioned into the expanded setting—independent ofthe second set of deformable regions 122—by inserting the stylus 141into the first cavity 144, and such that the second set of deformableregions 122 can be transitioned into the expanded setting—independent ofthe first set of deformable regions 122—by inserting the stylus 141 intothe second cavity 145. For example, the (first) second of deformableregions 122 can correspond to alphanumeric keys of a virtual keyboardrendered on the touchscreen (as described above), and the second set ofdeformable regions 122 can correspond to a set of gaming controls, suchas a pair of direction pads (i.e., d-pads), as shown in FIG. 2A.

In this variation, the first cavity 144 (and/or the second cavity 145)can include a detent configured to engage a series of detent positionson the stylus 141 such that the stylus 141 can be inserted into thefirst cavity 144 to a particular depth and retained by the detect. Inparticular, the depth of the stylus 141 in the first cavity 144 can bemanually adjusted by the user to change compression of the bladder 130,thereby adjusting a size, a volume, and/or a firmness of the deformableregion 122, and the detent can hold the stylus 141 in position untiladjusted or removed by the user. Alternatively, the stylus 141 cansimilarly include a detent that engages subsequent detent positionsdefined within the first cavity 144 (and/or the second cavity 145).

Yet alternatively, the displacement device 140 can include a set ofstylus 141 es, each stylus 141 in the set of a different length and/orprofile such that full insertion of one stylus 141 yields a differentdegree of compression of the bladder 130 than full insertion of anotherstylus 141 into the first cavity 144. In particular, a user can set aparticular size, shape, and/or firmness, etc. of the deformable region122 in the expanded setting by selecting a particular stylus 141 fromthe set of stylus 141 es for insertion into the first cavity 144.Similarly, the displacement device 140 can include a single stylus 141with a set of tips, and the user can install a particular tip—from theset of tips—onto the stylus 141 to set a level of compression of thebladder 130 at full insertion of the stylus 141 into the first cavity144. For example, each tip in the set can be of a differentcross-section, diameter, and/or length.

Furthermore, in this variation, the displacement device 140 can includea ramp arranged between the bladder 130 and the first cavity 144. Inparticular, the ramp can function as a buffer between the stylus 141 andthe bladder 130 to communicate a lateral force from the stylus 141 intothe bladder 130 as the stylus 141 enters the first cavity 144 such thatlinear translation of the stylus 141 into the first cavity 144 does nottear the bladder 130. For example, the ramp can define a flexibleelastomeric sheet retained at each end proximal the anterior andposterior ends of the first cavity 144. Alternatively, the ramp candefine a rigid structure 143 that engages guides within the housing 150between the bladder 130 and the first elongated tube to distribute alateral force from the stylus 141 substantially uniformly across thelength of the bladder 130 as the stylus 141 is inserted into the firstcavity 144. However, the ramp can be of any other form and configured inany other way to transmit a force from the stylus 141 into the bladder130. (In this variation, the displacement device 140 can similarlyinclude a second ramp arranged between the second bladder 130 and thesecond cavity 145.)

In a similar implementation, the displacement device 140 can include aslide defining a waveform (or ramp, etc.) profile adjacent the bladder130. In this implementation, the first and second cavity 145 s can sharea common axis, and the sleeve 147 can be arranged within a guide betweenthe cavity 144 s with the waveform profile of the sleeve 147 adjacentthe bladder 130. Thus, as the stylus 141 is inserted into the firstcavity 144, the anterior tip of the stylus 141 can contact a first endof the sleeve 147, thus displacing the sleeve 147 away from the firstcavity 144, forcing a tall section of the waveform profile into thebladder 130, and compressing the bladder 130 between the substrate 110and the tall section of the waveform profile. One the stylus 141 isremoved from the first cavity 144, the waveform profile of the sleeve147 can retain the sleeve 147 in this position. However, as the stylus141 is inserted into the second cavity 145, the anterior tip of thestylus 141 can contact an opposite end of the sleeve 147, thusdisplacing the sleeve 147 away from the second cavity 145 (and towardthe first cavity 144), forcing a short section of the waveform profiletoward the bladder 130, and releasing the bladder 130 such that thebladder 130 can expand to an original form and draw fluid back out ofthe fluid channel 116 through the via 118.

In the foregoing implementation, the sleeve 147 can also include a tabextending substantially perpendicular from an axis of the sleeve 147 andthrough the housing 150 such that the position of the sleeve 147 can bemanually controlled by moving the tab fore and aft, therebytransitioning the deformable region 122 into the expanded setting andinto the retracted setting, respectively. For example, the tab can runand extend through a guide defined along the back of the housing 150.

In this and other variations, the displacement device 140 can furtherinclude a manually actuated valve arranged between the bladder 130 andthe fluid channel 116. In particular, the valve can be closed and thebladder 130 compressed to store pressure for a period of time until auser releases the valve, thus enabling fluid to flow from the bladder130 into the fluid channel 116 to transition the deformable region 122into the retracted setting. For example, the valve can be controlled oraccessed on through a level, pawl, or other mechanism arranged on thehousing 150.

In this and other variations, the housing 150 can substantiallyencompass the perimeter and/or the back of the computing device. Forexample, the housing 150 can include a unitary plastic injection-moldedstructure 143 configured to snap onto a mobile computing device. Thehousing 150 can also define the first and/or second cavity 145 sadjacent a long edge of the computing device and adjacent the borderarea of the substrate no with the bladder 130 (and the second bladder130). The housing 150 can further include a cover 152 configured to snapover the first and second cavity 145 s and the border area of thesubstrate no to retain the border area against the housing 150. However,in this configuration, the displacement device 140 can include any othercomponent or mechanism in any other configuration to transition thedeformable between settings in response to insertion of a stylus 141into a corresponding bore or home position in a housing 150 or hard casefor a corresponding mobile computing device.

In a implementation of the variation, the border region defines a secondcavity 144 configured to receive the instrument 141, the second cavity144 supporting the instrument 141 in a third configuration and releasingthe instrument 141 in the second configuration; wherein the tactilelayer 120 defines a second deformable region 122; wherein the substrate110 defines a second fluid channel 116 and a second fluid conduit 114adjacent the second deformable region 122 and fluidly coupled to thesecond fluid channel 116; further including a second bladder 130 coupledto the second cavity 144, the instrument 141 compressing a portion ofthe second bladder 130 in the third configuration to displace fluid fromthe second bladder 130 into the second fluid channel 116 to transitionthe second deformable region 122 from the retracted setting to theexpanded setting, the instrument 141 releasing the portion of the secondbladder 130 in the second configuration. The second cavity 144 candefine a longitudinal axis substantially corresponding to a longitudinalaxis of the first cavity 144. The dynamic tactile interface 100 can alsoinclude a display 180 arranged under the back surface of the substrate110 and selectively rendering an image of a first virtual keyboard andan image of a second virtual keyboard, the deformable region 122 alignedwith a key of the first virtual keyboard and the second deformableregion 122 aligned with a key of a second virtual keyboard.

In another implementation, the cavity 144 is configured to receive asecond instrument 1412 (e.g., a second stylus 141) and release thesecond instrument 1412 from the second cavity 144 substantiallysimultaneously; wherein the instrument 141 compresses the bladder 130and releases the second bladder 130 substantially simultaneously totransition the deformable region 122 from the retracted setting to theexpanded setting and to transition the second deformable region 122 fromthe expanded setting to the retracted setting substantiallysimultaneously. The dynamic tactile interface 100 can also include atouch sensor 190 coupled to the substrate 110 and configured to output asignal corresponding to an input applied to the tactile layer 120.

In another implementation, the variation can include a via 118 fluidlycoupling the fluid channel 116 and the bladder 130 and passing throughthe back surface; wherein the cavity 144 defines an open end and aclosed end opposite the open end, the open end configured to receive theinstrument 141 into the cavity 144. In this implementation, shown inFIG. 17, the bladder 130 can include an elastomer sheet bonded along aperiphery to an inner surface of the cavity 144 between the open end andthe closed end, the bladder 130 retaining fluid between the elastomersheet and the closed end of the cavity 144 coincident the via 118. Thus,the elastomer sheet and the cavity 144 can cooperate to define thebladder 130.

In another implementation of the variation and the preceding variationshown in FIG. 19, the tactile layer 120 can include a second deformableregion 122 adjacent the peripheral region 121 and the deformable region122, the substrate 110 defining a second fluid conduit 114 adjacent thesecond deformable region 122 and a second fluid channel 116 fluidlycoupled to the second fluid conduit 114 and the bladder 130. In thisimplementation, the bladder 130 can further including a valve fluidlycoupled to the bladder 130, the fluid channel 116, and the second fluidchannel 116, the valve selectively communicating fluid from the bladder130 to the fluid channel 116 and the second fluid channel 116 toselectively transition the deformable region 122 and the seconddeformable region 122. The cavity 144 can define a first opening and asecond opening, the cavity 144 configured to receive the instrument 141into a first portion of the cavity 144 through the first opening andconfigured to receive the instrument 141 into a second portion of thecavity 144 opposite the first portion through the second opening. Thecavity 144 supports the bladder 130 between the first portion and thesecond portion. The cavity 144 can also include a first lever and asecond lever, the first lever coupled to an inner surface of the firstportion and the valve, the instrument 141 engaging the first lever inthe first portion of the cavity 144 in the first configuration andactuating the valve to communicate fluid from the bladder 130 to thefluid channel 116, the second lever coupled to an inner surface of thesecond portion and the valve, the instrument 141 engaging the secondlever in the first portion of the cavity 144 in the first configurationand actuating the valve to communicate fluid from the bladder 130 to thesecond fluid channel 116.

The cavity 144 can be configured to receive the instrument 141 definingan exterior cross-section substantially corresponding to and mating witha cross-section of the cavity 144, the instrument 141 concentricallyarranged within cavity 144 in the first configuration. Thus, theinstrument 141 can be of a substantially similar shape to the cavity144.

In another implementation, the bladder 130 can include an elongatedcylindrical tube defining a closed end and an open end, the open endfluidly coupled to the fluid channel 116 and opposite the closed end,the bladder 130 defining an outer diameter; wherein the cavity 144defines an internal cross-section substantially corresponding to theouter diameter of the bladder 130, the bladder 130 arrangedconcentrically within the cavity 144.

In this and other variations of the dynamic tactile interface 100, thesurface of the computing device can include a rear surface of thecomputing device opposite a display 180 of the computing device. Thedynamic tactile interface 100 can a touch sensor 190 coupled to the backsurface of the substrate 110 and arranged between the back surface ofthe substrate 110 and the rear surface of the computing deviceconfigured to detect an input applied to the tactile layer 120 andcoincident the rear surface. Thus, the dynamic tactile interface 100 canfunction to define a touch sensitive surface also providing tactileguidance on any surface of the computing device, such as the back, aside, or around a non-touch-sensitive bezel of a touchscreen.

As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 6A, 6B, and 6C, the variation can alsoinclude a cover 152 hinged to an edge of the housing 150, the cover 152pivotable about the hinge between a first cover 152 position and asecond cover 152 position, the cover 152 substantially flush with thetactile layer 120 in the first cover 152 position, the cover 152substantially flush with a back surface of the housing 150 opposite thetactile layer 120 in the second cover 152 position. The cavity 144 caninclude a gate transiently coupled to the cavity 144 proximal an openingin the cavity 144 and mechanically coupled to the cover 152, the cavity144 configured to receive the instrument 141 through the opening, thegate operable between a closed position and an open position, the gatesubstantially cover 152 ing the opening in the cavity 144 in the closedposition preventing receipt of the instrument 141 into the cavity 144 inresponse to the cover 152 in the first cover 152 position, the gateopening the opening of the cavity 144 to receive the instrument 141 intothe cavity 144 in response to the cover 152 in the second cover 152position. Thus, the cover 152 can actuate the gate such that the gateblocks 142 insertion of the instrument 141 to the cavity 144 when thecover 152 lies over the tactile layer 120. Consequently, the gate canprevent expansion of the deformable region 122 when the cover 152 liesover the tactile layer 120, thereby limiting damage to the tactile layer120 and rest of the dynamic tactile interface 100 due to expansion ofthe deformable regions 122 under an applied load (e.g., the cover 152pressing on the tactile layer 120).

7. Display

A variation of the dynamic tactile interface 100 shown in FIG. 14 caninclude a display 180 coupled to the back surface of the substrate 110and rendering an image of a key substantially aligned with thedeformable region 122. Generally, the display 180 can render an image ofan input key proximal the deformable region 122 such as described aboveand in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/414,589. The dynamic tactileinterface 100 can also include a housing 150 transiently engaging amobile computing device, the housing 150 transiently retaining thesubstrate 110 over a digital display 180 of the mobile computing device.For example, the dynamic tactile interface 100 can include anaftermarket housing 150 that surrounds the mobile computing device andarranges the dynamic tactile interface 100 substantially over thedisplay 180 of the mobile computing device. The display 180 can alsofunction to transmit light in the form of an image through the substrate110 and the tactile layer 120. For example, the display 180 can renderan image of an alphanumeric input key of a keyboard aligned with thedeformable region 122 thereby indicating an input associated with thedeformable region 122. In this example, when the deformable region 122is in the expanded setting and the display 180 outputs an image of thealphanumerical character “a”, selection of the deformable region122—sensed by the touch sensor 190—can be correlated with selection ofthe character “a”, and the mobile computing device incorporating thedynamic tactile interface 100 can response to the input by adding thecharacter “a” in a text field (e.g., with a SMS text messagingapplication executing on the mobile computing device). However, thedisplay 180 can function in any other way to display 180 an image of anyother type.

8. Touch Sensor

One variation of the dynamic tactile interface 100 can include a sensorcoupled to the substrate no and outputting a signal according to aninput on the tactile surface. The sensor of the dynamic tactileinterface 100 can detect an input on the tactile surface. Generally, thesensor functions to sense a change in an electric field or electricalproperty across the tactile layer 120 and/or substrate 110 and to outputa signal accordingly, such that a processor within the computing devicecan detect an input into the computing device based on the signal. Thenthe computing device can respond accordingly, such as described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/896,098. The sensor can include acapacitive (or resistive, optical, or other) touch sensor interposedbetween the substrate 110 and a display 180 coupled to the substrate110, the capacitive touch sensor 190 outputting a signal correspondingto an input on a tactile surface of the tactile layer 120 proximal thedeformable region 122. The sensor can additionally or alternativelyoutput a signal corresponding to a change in fluid pressure within thefluid channel 116 in response to a force applied to the deformableregion 122 of the tactile layer 120. Alternatively, the sensor caninclude a strain gauge integrated into the tactile layer 120 or arrangedbetween the tactile layer 120 and the substrate no and configured tooutput a signal corresponding to deformation of the tactile layer 120.However, the sensor can function in any other way to detect an input onthe tactile surface at the deformable region 122 and/or at theperipheral region 121.

9. Housing

A variation of the dynamic tactile interface 100 can include a housing150 supporting the substrate 110, the tactile layer 120, the bladder130, and the sleeve 147, the housing 150 engaging a computing device andretaining the substrate no and the tactile layer 120 over a display 180of the computing device. The housing 150 can also transiently engage themobile computing device and transiently retain the substrate no over adisplay 180 of the mobile computing device. Generally, in thisvariation, the housing 150 functions to transiently couple the dynamictactile interface 100 over a display 180 (e.g., a touchscreen) of adiscrete (mobile) computing device, such as described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/830,430. For example, the dynamic tactileinterface 100 can define an aftermarket device that can be installedonto a mobile computing device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet) to updatefunctionality of the mobile computing device to include transientdepiction of physical guides or buttons over a touchscreen of the mobilecomputing device. In this example, the substrate no and tactile layer120 can be installed over the touchscreen of the mobile computingdevice, a manually-actuated displacement device 140 can be arrangedalong a side of the mobile computing device, and the housing 150 canconstrain the substrate 110 and the tactile layer 120 over thetouchscreen and can support the displacement device 140. However, thehousing 150 can be of any other form and function in any other way totransiently couple the dynamic tactile interface 100 to a discretecomputing device.

The systems and methods of the preceding embodiments can be embodiedand/or implemented at least in part as a machine configured to receive acomputer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions. Theinstructions can be executed by computer-executable componentsintegrated with the application, applet, host, server, network, website,communication service, communication interface, native application,frame, iframe, hardware/firmware/software elements of a user computer ormobile device, or any suitable combination thereof. Other systems andmethods of the embodiments can be embodied and/or implemented at leastin part as a machine configured to receive a computer-readable mediumstoring computer-readable instructions. The instructions can be executedby computer-executable components integrated by computer-executablecomponents integrated with apparatuses and networks of the typedescribed above. The computer-readable medium can be stored on anysuitable computer readable media such as RAMs, ROMs, flash memory,EEPROMs, optical devices (CD or DVD), hard drives, floppy drives, or anysuitable device. The computer-executable component can be a processor,though any suitable dedicated hardware device can (alternatively oradditionally) execute the instructions.

As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detaileddescription and from the figures and the claims, modifications andchanges can be made in the foregoing embodiments of the inventionwithout departing from the scope of this invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:
 1. A dynamic tactile interface comprising: a tactile layerdefining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent theperipheral region; a substrate coupled to the peripheral region at anattachment surface of the substrate, the substrate defining a backsurface opposite the attachment surface, a fluid conduit adjacent thedeformable region, a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit,and a via fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and passing through theback surface; a bladder fluidly coupled to the via and coupled to theback surface of the substrate, the bladder defining a longitudinal axis;a volume of fluid arranged within the bladder; a structure adjacent afirst side of the bladder; and a platen adjacent a second side of thebladder opposite the first side and compressing the bladder against thestructure in a direction substantially perpendicular the longitudinalaxis of the bladder and substantially parallel the back surface of thesubstrate to displace fluid from the bladder, through the via, and intothe fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retractedsetting into an expanded setting, the deformable region tactilelydistinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting.